O'Brien had initially estimated naming a starter midway through training camp, about two weeks before the season opener. But he's backed off that position with Ferguson and Hackenberg neck-and-neck through camp.

"You know what? It may come on the first play of the game on offense (against Syracuse). We're all into this clarification stuff.

"It's my job to run the football team. I'm always going to do what's best for the football team. As long as I'm the head football coach here, I will always do that. That has nothing to do with indecisiveness, or doing this or doing that."

After enrolling in January, Ferguson began the summer with an edge on Hackenberg. But the freshman has impressed O'Brien with his command of the huddle and physical skills, which has extended the competition indefinitely.

Ferguson and Hackenberg are the only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Three preferred walk-ons round out the depth chart, headed by Crook as the team's No. 3 quarterback.